National Football League

Seahawks players meet after latest PED suspension

Published May. 29, 2013 2:31 a.m. ET

foxsports

It was the idea of fullback Michael Robinson, one of the more established veterans on Seattle's roster, to hold a players meeting after some more unwelcomed news came the Seahawks' way.

But Robinson wasn't alone in talking during a meeting last week that addressed the team's troubling run of suspensions for performance-enhancing substances.

''We just talked to the guys about making the same mistakes over and over,'' Seattle safety Kam Chancellor said after the Seahawks' latest organized team activity on Tuesday. ''At some point in time you have to mature yourself and grow up and not make the same mistakes over and over. We have to protect the team.''

The Seahawks were thrown back into the headlines for the wrong reasons when defensive end Bruce Irvin was suspended earlier this month for using a banned substance. Irvin, Seattle's first-round draft pick in 2012, will miss the first four games of the regular season.

Irvin became the fifth Seattle player since 2011 to be suspended for using a banned substance, joining John Moffitt, Allen Barbre, Winston Guy and Brandon Browner. Barbre was later released by the team, while the other four are still on Seattle's roster. A sixth player, cornerback Richard Sherman, had his suspension overturned on appeal.

The message during the 25-to-30 minute meeting the players had was simple: be individually accountable and stop making these mistakes.

''I think it touched everybody more hearing it from the players, and hearing what the players had to say, and what was deep on their heart,'' Chancellor said. ''I think everybody felt it, took it in, and I think everybody learned from that meeting.''

Seattle coach Pete Carroll did not talk Tuesday but gave an impassioned speech last week about the Seahawks needing to correct this problem. His message resonated with the veterans, who aren't blind to the opportunity that stands before this group to be contenders in the loaded NFC.

Sherman said it shouldn't matter who is delivering the message and that it should be taken with seriousness.

''All guys make their own decisions at the end of the day. These are all adults, grown men that at the end of the day can do whatever they please. He was just saying keep the best interests of the team at heart,'' Sherman said. ''... It definitely might have touched a few more guys and hopefully you see change.''

Seattle did get good news Tuesday as running back Marshawn Lynch rejoined the team for OTAs. He was absent during the Seahawks' first OTA that was open to the media last week and has spent most of the offseason working out in the Bay Area.

''We weren't too worried about him. We know he's a great athlete, great competitor, great leader on this team,'' Sherman said. ''You knew wherever he was he was working hard and do whatever he could for this club.''

The only healthy Seattle player absent Tuesday was offensive lineman Moffitt. According to court records, Moffitt had a hearing in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Wash., on misdemeanor charges from an incident in June 2012. He has another hearing scheduled for June 14.

Seattle also waived/injured tight end Anthony McCoy, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon during OTAs last week.

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